Smith gives Fairmont "the Blues" with big catch as Wayne survives
In the fairy tale that has been the Fairmont Firebirds season, the Wayne Warriors star receiver gave them a nightmare for a week or so.
In a game that featured great play from both sides, back and forth action, and a ruckus crowd, with the game tied at 28 and time running out, Rashad McKee launched a pass that L'Christian Blue Smith was able to grab from the defender in the end zone for the win.
The pass looked to be intercepted, only to be snatched away by Blue Smith.
Ball game.
Wayne moves to 6-2 and now looks as a lock for a playoff berth, while the loss drops the Firebirds to 6-2 as well.
Smith was heavily guarded by rising star DB Ryan Hall, but Smith, the Ohio State commit, showed why the Buckeyes can't wait for the 6'6 dynamic stud Wideout whose stock seems to be skyrocketing by the week.
The TD puts Smith in elite company as he now sits 20th all time on the TD list in OHSAA history.
Belmont roasts Shroeder, eyes SWOPL Championship
The Bison continued their unstoppable play with a 63-0 win over Schroeder at Welcome Stadium Friday night.
Dawson Martin, a do-it-all type player, scored twice and threw another TD,Senior Demari Black scored on a kickoff return and then later and the Bison scored 36 in the first quarter en route to the blowout win.
Star DB Jaden Rucker Furlow , a Miami commit, scored on a 47-yard pass to help the offensive attack.
Belmont has given up 9 points in 8 games, a average of 1.2 points per game.
With only one game left (@ Western Hills) and barring a meltdown, the Bison could - and should -be headed to the playoffs for the 3rd consecutive season. And with that they can add another SWOPL Championship, which Coach Earl White and the staff can add to the growing list of achievements the Bison have conquered in this record breaking season.
Player of the Game: Dawson Martin, Sr. DB-RB Belmont
Dawson ran a TD, caught a TD pass and threw a TD pass as well, as the dynamic two way player dominated in every phase for the Bison.
Dunbar falls to Taft, still in playoff hunt
The Wolverines lost a tough one down in the Nati to a game and excited Taft team, who pulled out the victory.
Dunbar is now 5-3, and must win last 2 games for a shot at the playoffs. Taft sits at 6-2 and if they can win their last 2 games, should be in the playoffs as well.
QB Cleveland Farmer ran for 2 TD's and threw for another as Taft dominated the first half, going up 24-0 before Dunbar struck back on a long TD to Alabama commit JoJo Scates.
After a score by Dunbar, Taft stalled on its next drive and punted back to the Wolverines.
However, the possession ended in a INT for the Wolverines, and that sealed the deal on a comeback.
Taft is now #4 in the playoff rankings, and could host a playoff game as they move to 6-2 and 3-0 in the SWOPL.
Trotwood puts a 67 spot on Stebbins
The Rams scored early and often as they ran past Stebbins as the Rams ran their record to 8-0. Trotwood star RB Raveion Hargrove scored 3 times while Stephens Peppers threw 3 TD's and ran for one more - in the first half alone- as the #1 Team in the state rolled to a easy win against Stebbins.
Northmont stops Centerville as key play by Lewis saves game
Danny Lewis, a fast rising junior DB, hasn't gotten much pub with the likes of Devin Kennerly and the senior laden Thunderbolts team.
But Lewis came up with the clutch stop on 4th down against Centerville, and Northmont defeated the Elks 21-14 as the fans went crazy after the win.
The Bolts now sit at 6-2 and knocks the Elks from the undefeated ranks as well (7-1).
Lewis is also a very good basketball player, and comes from great lineage as his father enjoyed a great career professionally in basketball.
Bolts coach Tony Broering knows that this is his best team he's had and with 1 more win, it could secure a berth in the OHSAA playoffs.
Thurgood survives on road at Woodward, keep playoff hopes alive
The Cougars of Thurgood Marshall continued to show why, if things go right, they could end up in the OHSAA playoffs after a gritty 21-20 OT win at Woodward.
While Woodward is not in playoff contention, they played hard all night, and looked as if they would be able to upend the Cougars in OT.
After a TD score by Woodward RB Kyron Reese, who was unstoppable near the goaline, the game went into OT.
Thurgood would score on a Russell Jashawn TD and with a extra point by Mr Automatic Rolando Perez would push the score to 21-14.
Woodward then would score on a Reese TD, and when it was time to kick the extra point?
Former Wayne and Dayton Christian coach and head man for Woodward in Kali Jones rolled the dice and went for 2.
At home? With the crowd roaring in approval? Against a tired Cougars team?
Thurgood stopped Reese short of the end zone, and the Cougars playoff hopes stayed alive.
Then came the jubilation for Thurgood, as they now own a 5-game winning steak under Coach Brian Carter, which is the most since the Earl White era.
Troy stops Sidney undefeated run with great rushing performance from Culp-Bishop
The Trojans shut down Sidney's vaunted offense and with it, put themselves in playoff contention with a 48-21 thrashing on Friday night.
Rising RB Jaydon Culp-Bishop tormented the Yellow Jackets D for 237 yards, with a Tony Dorsett like run of 99 yards to break open the game and move the Trojans in first place in the GWOC North Division.
As far as stud RB and leading Rusher Isaiah Bowser?
55 yards on 25 carries, by far his lowest outing of the season.
Culp Bishop stated after the game that the Troy D is "the best in the GWOC. Period."
Not sure if that is true, but for one night, they shut down the top guy in the GWOC and put themselves in good position for a playoff berth.
Sidney falls to 7-1.
Springfield clobbers Beavercreek, sends statement
The Wildcats was at a crossroads before the game, as they had let one slip away at home to Northmont. Sitting at 5-2, how would they respond against a tough team who had just lost themselves in Beavercreek?
Well the response was ferocious, and it left no doubt that the Wildcats want a taste of the OHSAA Playoffs as they bounced back with a resounding 64-28 win at Beavercreek.
Leonard Taylor was on point, and the offense was hitting on all cylinders in the big win.
The win moves the Wildcats to 6-2 and in a good position to reach the Playoffs.
The Beavers have lost 3 straight, and need to win last 2 games to try to get back in playoff contention.
The Burg wins 2nd straight, stays in hunt
Miamisburg won their 2nd straight game as they defeated Lebanon 24-13. The win gets the Burg back to .500 (4-4) and if they can win their last 2 games, could push them back into a playoff spot.
Star WR Tyler Johnson led the Vikings on the win.
Valley View rolls to 8th straight, dominates Oakwood
The Spartans showed why they could be a problem come playoff time as they wiped out Oakwood and their explosive offense 50-7.
The Spartans scored 29 in the 1st quarter and never looked back as Genslinger and Wood scored twice in the 1st half to lead Valley View to a 8-0 record on the season and hopeful to host a 1st round game.
Alter shuts out Badin, wins 20th straight, C-J survives, wins 6th straight
Alter continued to show control of Badin, as they shut them out 48-0. The Knights have beaten Badin 20 straight times, and now sit at 7-1 on the season. John Bivens, the star RB for Alter, powered for 260 yards on 25 rushes, the Badin had no one who could stop the D-1 bound RB.
C-J survived a tough game from McNicholas as they won 24-21.
With the win, C-J moves into a position to possibly make the playoffs, as they have won 6 straight since the Week 2 loss. Coach Marcus Colvin is real pleased with the progress through the season, and know that if he can get a big Week 9 win, they could be headed to the playoffs despite a 0-2 start.
Stars of Week 8
L'Christian Blue Smith, WR Wayne - Blue Smith gave something for the Firebirds to remember if they don't make the playoffs as the Hail Mary catch capped off a 4-catch dominating display of why Ohio State is drooling over the WR sensation.
Danny Lewis, DB, Northmont Lewis, who could be headed for stardom, knocked down the final pass vs Centerville and helped shut down one the Top Teams in the GWOC in a 21-14 win. Lewis, a athletic DB, is a 2- sport star in the making, and should have a great end to the season.
Raveion Hargrove, RB Trotwood - Hargrove continues to amaze, with 4 TD's in the game as he seems to just be playing at another level, along with the rest of the team.
Rashad McKee, QB, Wayne McKee continued to show up big in the big games as he accounted for 5 TD's in the epic game and ended with a connect to Blue Smith to end the game.
McKee seems headed for stardom and some big time D-1 recruitment.
Rolando Perez, K Thurgood Perez has come through in the clutch for Thurgood, as they ride a 5 game winning streak. Perez hit the GW Kick to help seal the deal for the Cougars. With Perez, it has made Thurgood a more rounded team with a solid Special Teams unit.
Kameron Mathis, WR, Northnmont - Mathis caught 2 big TD passes against State Ranked Centerville to help the Bolts get the big win.
Dawson Martin, RB-DB, Belmont - Martin showed he can be a jack of all trades as he scored a TD running, catching, and passing the ball as the Bison destroyed Shroeder. Martin is one of the most versatile football players in all of Ohio and in the Midwest, and is a D-1 prospect, no doubt.
Jaydon Culp-Bishop, RB, Troy - Culp Bishop took all the hype from opposing RB Isaiah Bowser and responded with a 237 yard effort that included a 99-yard TD run. Not bad for fast rising junior from Troy.
John Bivens, RB, Alter - Bivens continues to show whe he could be the highest RB prospect in the junior class in Ohio, as he rushed for 260 on 25 carries to lead the State Ranked Knights to a 7-1 record. Hes already been recruited by Big 10 schools.
Leonard Taylor, QB, Springfield - Taylor showed why the Cats could be a team who could do some big things as he led the Cats to a big win against Beavercreek. The dynamic big QB ran an passed for TDs, controlled the tempo, and got the Cats back in the playoff saddle.
